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My very first book was Instant Mom by Nia Vardalos. Nia is famous for writing and starring in "My Big Fat Greek Wedding". She adopted her then three-year-old daughter through foster care and chronicled her experiences in her book.
Vardalos gives a little bit of background on her and her husband (another actor, Ian Gomez). She tells of her struggles with infertility and the numerous (!) IVF treatments she endured. This is all set against her life as an actress and trying to keep her private life private.
Wonderfully, Nia and her husband are matched with a three-year-old girl and the reader gets to see first hand what some of the trials might be with adopting a toddler: rage, acting out, sleep problems (ie: no sleep at all). Vardalos is at the same time honest and self-deprecating. It is great to go through her journey with her to see the progress her daughter makes with the love and dedication of her new parents.
As I read it, I wondered how I would handle a toddler like this (in my home of three boisterous girls). I realized that not only would it be a huge task for my husband and myself to help this little one, it would take a major toll on our girls. Even with the best situation, it would be difficult to bring a little person (rather than a baby) into our home...right now.
I think it's awesome that Vardalos chose to go through foster care as opposed to the "celebrity way" of adopting a baby internationally. Doesn't it seem very few celebrities are adopting domestically lately? It doesn't really make any difference to me, but it does seem that international adoptions are all the rage in the celebrity world.
She says she didn't choose to be the spokeswoman for adoption, specifically foster adoption. And I don't really empathize with that because for those of us who have endured infertility, we didn't want to be a spokeswoman for that either, but that is the trial that made us who we are, right? We need women with voices to speak for those who are too scared or shy to have one. And if she's a little uncomfortable with being in the spotlight for adoption, I'm sure a hug from fellow adoptive parent Hugh Jackman can make things alright. I'm just sayin...
Overall, this is a quick read and a great peek into the life of someone who chose to do foster care. I wish the foster care part was a little more detailed (it seems so much of it is unknown that bringing it out of the shadows might encourage more people to consider it), but it is a fun little book. I give it 2 1/2 out of 5 stars.
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